Private Stash: Midgetoy

2012.09.27

It’s often the smallest things that make me the happiest. As is the case with this futuristic 1950s die cast toy car with an apt, yet very politically incorrect, name: Midgetoy. At about the size of a Matchbox car, I nearly walked right past this at a flea market. Miniature toy cars aren’t something I’m on the hunt for—I’m usually scanning for larger game. But this little red rocket car caught my eye and I couldn’t put it down. It’s so quintessentially 1950s in its brightness and spaceship-like form. I had to have it. A little research revealed that it was sold between 1950 and 1959 in many colors and is a replica of the first car to break the 200 mph land speed record at the Bonneville Nationals. These commonly sell in the $20-$30 range, so it was well worth the $2 I dropped on it. I keep it with my other vintage toys on the staircase where it serves as a daily reminder to that you find the best things when you aren’t looking for them.